| "> | | | | 2. Take a simple Thai phrase or sentence and |
| There must be some reason why some people | | | | master it. Use that sentence as much as possible. |
| can learn the Thai language like it's second nature. | | | | What you'll find is that you can build on this... |
| They also seem to be able to learn Thai quickly | | | | Here's an example. If you learn how to say "Hi, |
| too, as if no real effort is required on their part. | | | | my name is so and so," then after a while you'll |
| Why is this? Well, let's take a deeper look into | | | | get the hang of saying "my name is so and so, |
| learning Thai and see if we can find out the | | | | and what's your name?" |
| secrets... | | | | See how you can expand on a simple sentence |
| Firstly you might think that just by coming to | | | | like that? Before you know it you'll have |
| Thailand you would automatically learn Thai quickly. | | | | wonderfully long Thai sentences popping out of |
| Actually no. Out of all the hundreds of western | | | | your mouth and the folks around you smiling in |
| people who I've met living in Thailand over the | | | | disbelief! |
| years, only a tiny handful of them could speak | | | | 3. Don't worry too much about the tones when |
| Thai. Obviously just being in Thailand doesn't | | | | you're first starting to learn Thai. Focus instead on |
| automatically give you mastery over the Thai | | | | getting the word sounding approximately right. |
| language. :) | | | | (The Thai's will happily correct you anyway!) |
| So what is it then? How does one get to learn | | | | Working the different tones can come later. Write |
| Thai easily? | | | | down how the words 'sounds' to you. For |
| 1. Well, you know when you want to get good at | | | | example: the word 'bedroom' can be written like |
| something you need to practice, right? It's the | | | | this... "hong non." This will help you memorize the |
| same with learning Thai. To get good at it you | | | | words better. |
| need to practice and then practice even more. | | | | So there you go. In a nutshell that's how you can |
| Buy yourself a Thai language book, keep it with | | | | start to learn Thai. Obviously there's a lot more to |
| you, and use it often. When it looks a sight for | | | | it! But that'll get you on track to start speaking |
| sore eyes, I'll know you've been using it! | | | | some basic Thai conversation. Sa-wat-di-krap! |